News Headlines:

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has stirred up massive controversy with his comments -- laced with crass humour -- ridiculing the acute water scarcity in the state. Referring to the hunger strike by a drought-affected farmer at Mumbai's Azad Maidan, Pawar had said "He has been on fast for the last 55 days. (But) If there is no water in the dam, how can we release it? Should we urinate into it? If there is no water to drink, even urinating is not possible." The NCP leader followed up this comment laced with crass humour with another remark poking fun at load-shedding in the state stating, "I have noticed that more children are being born since the lights go off at night. There is no other work left then."The opposition has attacked Pawar for his insensitive comments. Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray and BJP leader Vinod Tawde said it was a cruel joke on the drought-hit people of the state. BJP's NC Shaina called the comment "disgusting, crude and arrogant." The nephew of Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar later apologised for his remarks made while addressing a public meeting at an interior village in Indapur tehsil of Pune district. The remarks were greeted with laughter from the audience.